I can't find the words to begin to describe my dining experience at this Italian restaurant. It is…read moreone of those very unique restaurants that far exceeds the highest of your expectations. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I was also awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Sal's Italian Restaurant in the Bonsack area of Roanoke, Virginia is a perfect example. Located at the Kroger Bonsack Shopping Center, it sits just off US-460/Orange Ave East, in the northeastern part of the Roanoke Valley. Locally-owned and operated by the Scotto family, who originally came from Italy, this unasuming yet award-winning restaurant serves authentic, homemade Italian food in a warm, family-friendly entertainment, offering dine-in, dine-out (in its beautiful outdoor patio), take-out, and catering services. After arriving and parking my pearl white Lexus in their very convenient parking lot, I walked over to the restaurant which had colorful balloons near the entrance with a sidewalk blackboard announcing its Sit Down Buffet (Mon - Fri), all you can eat from a group of items, brought to your table. All for $14.99. I've always dreamed of having a buffet where you wouldn't have to get up, and here they had it. Once inside, they had a small foyer/waiting room, with the walls filled with framed Award Certificates, together with magazine and newspaper articles about the restaurant, its genuine food, and its local family ownership. As I entered through another door to the restaurant itself, one of the sons of the founder of the restaurant (who passed away on July 3rd, nine years ago) gave me a warm greeting, took me to one of the booths, and placed copies of the menu on the table. The background music gave the place a festive ambiance together with the oak hardwood floor and well lit dining room. Soon after, my server Ashley arrived with a friendly smile, to take my order. To drink I ordered an Iced Rootbeer. And to dine, I started out with a Fried Calamari appetizer; followed by a house salad, Italian garlic bread, and as the main entrée their Homemade Meat Lasagna. The fried Calamari was lightly breaded and fried so you could actually taste the fresh Calamari after dipping it in the mild marinara sauce. One of the best I've ever had! The house salad was good but only had one cherry tomato and one slice of cucumber. The tomato based salad dressing was amazing. Their Italian Garlic Bread tasted wonderful. And their Homemade Lasagna was truly one of the best if not the best I've ever had. The pasta was freshly made. The ground beef was perfectly seasoned. The tomato sauce was just the right flavor. And the cheese which covered it helped make it amazingly delicious, like none that I ever had before! My server served all the items at the appropriate time and provided drink refills every time my drink was low. For dessert, the "Grand Finale" of my meal, my server brought a large round tray, with all the desserts so I could visually see them as she described them. I picked the Chocolate Bomba: a vanilla and chocolate premium ice cream ball with a cherry inside and surrounded by a chocolate shell. It was really something extraordinary and sweet. But what was greatest of all was the human touch by this family-owned restaurant. The wife of the late founder of the restaurant as well as her other son and chef made it a point to come to my table to say hi, introduce themselves, and have a short but meaningful conversation. I highly recommend this restaurant where I had an extraordinary dining experience and am already looking forward to returning to taste some other amazing items from their menu.

DW and I went in for dinner on a Friday night around 1830. After waiting for a table for half an…read morehour or so we were seated. Clearly they were busy, think it's a popular local dinner spot. We ordered from a comprehensive menu organized by its protein inclusion. Meal was fine, garlic knots were a bit disappointing. Our plan is to go back on a calmer night.

Have gotten takeout here for years and they never disappoint! Great service over the phone when…read moreplacing an order and in person. Very spacious inside if you want to eat there!

Located in the Mountain View Plaza, off Lee Highway in Troutville, Virginia, this family-owned…read moregenuine Italian restaurant, is well-known for its New York style pizza and its homemade doughs and sauces, as well as its real mozzarella cheese. The restaurant doesn't have a full bar, but they do serve beer and wine. My friend and I who love Italian food decided to go try it out today. As soon as we entered the door we were warmly welcomed and greeted by a friendly young lady who to us to our booth and handed us the menus. The dining room was very clean and decorated with cute yet elegant Italian artworks on the walls. The menu was very extensive and contained popular items such as homemade lasagna, pizza, Philly cheese steak subs, and unique Italian dinners. . Our server, another very welcoming young lady with a big smile came by and took our order. Although most of the customers there were sharing a pizza, and they looked so delicious, we both decided to have the Stromboli with the works. Believe it or not, I think this was the first time that I had ever had Stromboli at an Italian restaurant. To drink we both had Cokes. When the food arrived, the Strombolis looked so fresh and delicious on the outside, and in the inside it contained fresh quality ingredients such as Mozzarella, Green Peppers, Onions, Pepperoni, Sausage & Mushrooms. I was very impressed with its homemade dough and real Mozzarella cheese. The Peperoni, Sausage, and all the other ingredients were also quality products. Our server came to check on us at the appropriate times and provided us with some refills for our drinks. They had some good Italian desserts on the menu as well, but we already had planned to have dessert at another place. Everything was so good, that even though we hadn't finish eating yet, I already was looking forward to try one of their pizzas or unique Italian dinners. I also found the prices to be very reasonable for the quality of their food. I highly recommend this place to all those who love Italian cuisine, and I heard they are currently in the process of expanding.

If you're looking for spectacular Italian food, this place is an absolute must-visit. We've been…read morehere twice for weekend lunches and have already found our new go-to spot! The covered patio is fantastic--it sits perfectly between buildings, creating a light, refreshing breeze that makes outdoor dining incredibly comfortable. There's also an ample amount of seating, so you never feel cramped. The service is just as impressive as the atmosphere. Our first server, Cassidy, was so amazing that we specifically requested her on our second visit. As for the food, you really can't go wrong. My husband, mother-in-law, and I tried the Philly cheesesteaks and tortellini on day one, and followed it up with the baked ziti, manicotti, and broccoli Alfredo on visit number two. Our pasta entrée's came with a fresh tossed or Caesar salad, and they start you off with warm, soft bread that has the perfect crust. The portions are incredibly generous (expect leftovers!), making the pricing very reasonable. For my husband and me, our bill was only around $45 including soft drinks. We love this spot for lunch and can't wait to come back for dinner and drinks!

Craving Italian and visiting from out of town I saw the great reviews on Yelp and other platforms…read moreso stopped in (twice). Food, service, care, quality ingredients, fair prices and huge portions not to mention off the charts delicious had me back a second time before heading home. William the bartender is a stand out, everyone is so friendly. I ordered the baked Ziti and lasagna second visit. Both homemade style recipes. Their red sauce is unparalleled AAA+++

A very strong experience at Fortunato for a celebration dinner. The restaurant accommodated a group…read moreof 7 with a few days notice. The business is located downtown Roanoke. Parking is free off street, or paid at nearby garage. The entry way was clear of debris. Our party was immediately seated and we quickly decided to move table from a smaller private, but loud room to the main room. I found the atmosphere and decor of the room to be nice. The waitress was on top of things with drink orders. They have one of the strongest bourbon selections in town. So I had to get an Old Fashioned. Drinks pushed out within 10 minutes as we finished browsing menus.my Old Fashioned was quality and completely authentic. Super tasty! There were a few orders of pizza and I ordered a house salad with Egg Plant Parmesan. Our waitress kept glasses full of waters. She was upbeat and energetic. Food pushed out for the entire table around the same time in less than 30 minutes. Everyone was pleased with their entrees. The Egg Plant is a vegetarian dish. I'm not a vegetarian, but appreciate the dish. It was huge and so good! When time for desert multiple items were ordered. The waitress prepared a special dish of ice-cream with candle for my son. That was totally not expected and very thoughtful of the staff. I had the Salame chocolate and others had tiramisu. Both excellent, I tried. The bill was dropped in a timely manner. The amount was family affordable in my opinion. I would absolutely return and recommend.

Always a favorite and this trip did not disappoint. We weren't sure what time we would finish up…read moreour work on this particular Thursday evening so I waited to check for a table last minute. Thankfully we were able to get it with just a 30 minute wait or so. I had dreamed of arancini all day long only to find it was not on the menu any longer unfortunately! Heartbroken. All of our dishes were still delicious of course but please bring back the arancini! Service was impeccable, lighting and cocktails on point, still on my short list of all-time faves! Can't wait for our next visit!

I've eaten at many family-owned restaurants, many of which have been Pizzerias, but never have I…read moreseen such a close family relationship, of family members working closely together in the successful operation of their business. After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Lil' Cucci's Pizzeria, now located in Roanoke, Virginia, is the perfect example. I met the head of the household, co-owner Maurizio "Joe" Cucci, right after placing my order for the very first time with his daughter, who works at the cashier counter, taking the orders and charging for them. As I went down to the open kitchen large window to see them working making the pizzas and other Italian delicacies, Mauricio warmly greeted and welcomed me and introduced himself. He is originally from Sicily, Italy, and came to this country in 1978 when his late brother Victor brought him over. And together they created this Pizzeria which they kept all about friends and family. But then he immediately asked me for my name and where was I from, just as two friends who meet for the first time and begin establishing conversation that will later turn into friendship. This is the difference between this pizza shop and others. Here the owners and employees are genuinely interested in their customers and treat them as friends of the family, and the business just comes naturally from that warm relationship that he establishes and maintains with his customers which he knows and greets by their first name. After being in business for many years, they had the opportunity of purchasing this land and build their own pizza place building. And their customers enjoy the friendly relationship he has with them as much as they enjoy their pizzas. And their loyalty is such that they are open only 3 days a week: Thursdays Fridays, and Saturdays from 11:00AM to 8:00PM on Thursdays and from 11:00AM to 9:00PM on Fridays and Saturdays. But on these 3 days the place is continously full. His son is by his side making the pizzas and his wife helps out making sure the orders are handed to the right customers. I ordered a House Salad to start with and a Small 12 inch Lil' Cucci's Special Pizza, together with a Dr Pepper softdrink. And waited in front of the window watching Maurizio making pizzas, and directing the whole operation, and at the same time talking to me about his family and business. I invite you to view my photographs and videos that accompany my review for a better sense and feel about the ambiance of the place and look of the food. All I can say was that my salad was so crispy and fresh, and my pizza was so good that I ended up eating the whole thing. I left after saying goodbye to Maurizio and his family having discovered the secret to their success. Their convenient parking lot was almost completely full by then, and more customers were arriving, picking up their To Go orders, or dining in or in the outdoor patio. I highly recommend this place not only for their amazingly delicious food, but for you to see for yourselves and experience first hand the epitome of customer service.

Our favorite spot for good NY pizza! We come here all the time. Extremely friendly!read more

Had dinner and came back for breakfast. Both were delicious. The menu pics for breakfast don't do…read morejustice to the actual breakfast served. The bagels were amazing. I had a bagel sandwich with 2 over easy eggs, bacon, and American cheese (see pic). Come to find out, one of the workers graduated from culinary school and she makes the bagels herself. For dinner I had the pesto chicken sandwich that has a crazy list of toppings but is amazing as well (chicken cutlet, pesto, chipotle mayo, spinach, onion, banana pepper). This is a hidden gem!!

B is for Bella Vita…read more Continuing my restaurants been to with g/f, Bella Vita was a lifesaver. My g/f parents have a house near Smith Mountain Lake, and we were down there the week of 4th of July 2024. On Saturday, July 6 we were going to Vinny's (which she had recommended), and they totally dropped the ball. We were seated and no one came around for over 10 minutes even with water. We were hungry and didn't want to be sitting there waiting for God knows how long. I was looking on my phone and discovered Bella Vita up the road. So, we got out of there. We had to park a little further, it happened to be their 4th of July weekend celebration. We just wanted to eat; so we entered the restaurant on a specific side as the other side was part of the charged fair. We were served rapidly water, got menus, decided, and got our food in quick timing. Not only that, the food was excellent, and even my g/f acknowledged she liked better than Vinny's. I got the spaghetti chicken parmesan. It was very hearty, but I was hungry and ate it all. Not like I could do leftovers as we were leaving the next day. I even helped eat a little of hers as well as she was like I can't finish this. It was best spaghetti chicken parmesan I've had in quite a while. It's a somewhat small place, but it was comfortably laid out although a bit on the dark side. Overall, this is an excellent place and will try to return.

Great legit Italian place with super friendly family who care about serving you delish food . The…read morepizza has a perfect crunchy crust with enough heft to hold all the toppings . Really tasty. Also had baked ziti which was great. Get the garlic knots !!

I arrived a bit before my pickup time and was informed that this is a place where the pickup time…read moreis what they say it's going to be, which is not the case everywhere but is fine. A four cheese pizza is a common creation, but of course there are more than four cheeses so every chef picks differently. The ones here gave a complex flavor impression both Italian and American, and getting jalapenos on top completed the taste with some needed bite. Had I wanted anything other than bread and cheese I didn't like their salad options, but they did what they're trying to do effectively.

The reimagined Fratelli has just reopened. We were lucky enough to be one of their first tables…read more(7/21/26) and they earned very bit of 5 The simple italian salad had a delicious cheese blend and marinated tomatoes. Margarita pizza was SO flavorful. The head chef stopped to tell us all that went into finding the PERFECT blend of flour for the crust. Virginia flour stoneground at a nearby historical mill and imported Italian flour provided the perfect chew, a puffed crust and structure to hold all of that delicious "top shelf" cheese. The pizza alone will bring us back. The bread and desserts are all house made and excellent. No shortcuts have been taken and you can taste it. A beautiful atmosphere, very friendly and helpful staff that care about your experience. Their sommelier has hand selected wines that are unavailable anywhere in our area. He will surely find your perfect pairing. Fratelli Italian Kitchen you're on the right track.

We celebrated my daughter's graduation by having dinner at Fratelli. The restaurant is nicely…read moredecorated, located downtown about halfway up the hillside from the river. The menu was a special graduation week menu. There was a lot of standard Italian restaurant fare, and brick oven pizzas. I ordered the brick oven lasagna, my daughter had the airline chicken and my wife ordered a salad. My lasagna came in a small iron skillet served on a serving board along with 2 grill toasted pieces of bread. It had plenty of meat and cheesy goodness, just like I like my lasagna! The airline chicken was char grilled with a lot of flavor. My daughter loved it, and I loved the bite I got to try. Overall, it was a very good Italian mea, great servicel at a very good price.

This is a cute little mom and pop place on Main Street in Blacksburg. We tried the carbonara and…read morethe cacio e pepe. Both were delicious! Service was quick and the server was friendly. Glad we picked this place on our way home to Georgia.

Went for Montgomery Restaurant week. Deal included a pasta entree, a slice of pizza, a dessert, and…read morea glass of the house wine. Let's start with the positives: They were flexible, let us change the wine for soft drinks. Despite getting there right at dinner rush, they got the food out quick. Portion sizes were good. The bad: The food itself was okay, not mind blowing. Would say the pizza was good, but it seems like we both got edge slices that seemed to be more bread than topping, luck of the draw there maybe. The dessert was the saving grace, simple and not too sweet. Overall a positive experience but i'd be more inclined to give this 3.5 if Yelp had half stars.